Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks star who plans to become a free agent after the season, will shun various overtures and re-sign with the Knicks. This is according to his wife La La Anthony.
The actress said: “I definitely think he will stay” during an interview with Bravo TV’s “Watch What Happens Live.” “I know that he wants to stay, and I support wherever he wants to go.
“Listen, I used to live in Denver with him. If I can live in Denver, I can live anywhere. I just want him to be happy.”
Carmelo Anthony, who is under contract through next season, says he will exercise his right to opt out of the contract and test free agency this summer.
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be a suitor.
“Well, everybody wants to play in Los Angeles,” Kobe Bryant said when asked about Anthony’s potential interest in joining the Lakers. “I mean, New York is a beautiful place, don’t get me wrong, but it is colder than s**t out here. You know, palm trees and beaches obviously are a little more appealing.
“All jokes aside, I think that players, when that time comes, will have to make the best decision for them and their families. I try not to think about it too much. If he wants to call me for advice later as a friend, I will be more than happy to give it to him.”
Anthony, who is in his 11th season, said Monday that his sole motivation is to win an NBA title.
“That’s the only thing I care about. Anything else is irrelevant to me when it comes to basketball,” he said. “Championship is the only thing that’s on my mind, is the only thing I want to accomplish, I want to achieve, and I’m going to do what I got to do to get that. That’s my motivating factor. Nothing else even motivates me anymore, just that.”
Bryant agreed with that position.
“The only way to do that is win,” Bryant said. “That’s it. I won five championships, and there’s some of you guys [who] still say that. You just got to take it and roll with it. The important thing is winning a championship. That’s the only way to shake it. That’s the only way Michael [Jordan] shook it. That’s the only way any top scorer will be able to shake it.”
